NewsBite

Trent Cotchin will receive the 2012 Brownlow Medal, a reminder of what could have been

SAM Mitchell’s Brownlow Medal is the crowning glory on a flawless career. Trent Cotchin’s will be a reminder of what might have been, writes Jon Ralph.

Trent Cotchin, 2012 Brownlow Medallist. Picture: Colleen Petch
Trent Cotchin, 2012 Brownlow Medallist. Picture: Colleen Petch

SAM Mitchell will be presented to the media with his newly minted Brownlow Medal the crowning glory on a flawless career.

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin will sit next to him with his 2012 achievement as a reminder for many as what might have been.

The pair will speak at AFL House this morning about their belated win, which has turned attention to just what a stunning 2012 season Cotchin put together.

DROUGHT-BREAKER: COTCHIN DID WHAT RICHO COULDN’T

FINANCIAL LOSS: TIGERS PAY AS ARMY STAYS HOME

MARK ROBINSON: NO STAIN ON COTCHIN, MITCHELL MEDALS

He kicked 21.16 and effortlessly amassed 606 possessions as an inside midfielder who could burst from stoppages or go one-out as a marking forward.

With the world at his feet as a 22-year-old wunderkind, he had turned into the most admired young star in the game.

A profile piece on Cotchin early in 2013 contained this line: “Cotchin has become the new Lenny Hayes: the player everyone loves to love.”

Trent Cotchin at the 2012 Brownlow Medal count.
Trent Cotchin at the 2012 Brownlow Medal count.

“Look, it’s almost humbling for people to have so much respect for you,’’ Cotchin said in that Herald Sun story without a hint of hubris.

So what the hell has gone wrong?

Why has Cotchin turned into such a maligned figure that his wife was forced to defend him against the “constant criticism” in recent years?

It is a remarkable turnaround in public perception given this year Cotchin was mostly excellent as the captain of a sinking ship.

And has finished first (2014), third (2016), fifth (2013) and sixth (2015) in the four years since.

A deeper examination of the statistics confirms the gut feel response: that Cotchin has stopped hurting opposition sides like he did in 2012.

Trent Cotchin celebrates a goal. Picture: Mark Stewart
Trent Cotchin celebrates a goal. Picture: Mark Stewart
Sam Mitchell has done it all. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
Sam Mitchell has done it all. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

In that year, as the young and exciting Tigers won 10 and a half games, Cotchin was surrounded by ball hunters Shane Tuck, Daniel Jackson, Nathan Foley, Brett Deledio and a young Dustin Martin.

He didn’t just win possessions, he turned games with four bags of three goals and 107 tackles.

In that year he had 7.7 score involvements (a career high), averaged 456 metres (a career high), and won 17.7 per cent of his touches inside 50 (another career high).

This year he won just 7.4 per cent of his touches inside 50 (a career low) and gained only 387 metres after 2015’s 342, a clear career low.

He led the club’s clearances (six a game) ahead of Dustin Martin (5.2), Anthony Miles (4.8), Shaun Grigg (4) and Shane Edwards (3.9).

Then comes the massive drop, with Brandon Ellis (1.6 clearances a game) the next-best.

Trent Cotchin leaves St Kilda opponents in his wake. Picture: Michael Dodge
Trent Cotchin leaves St Kilda opponents in his wake. Picture: Michael Dodge

A player who in 2012 kicked 1.59 times to every handball was this year at 1.17 kicks to every handball, a significant drop.

So a player who once was an attacking weapon who could do it all is now a blunt force weapon doing much of the heavy lifting.

Even when he did put together an exceptional string of games, playing a fortnight after a fractured cheekbone and once just days after an infection in hospital, the critics came for him.

Cotchin has become the fall guy for everything that ails Richmond.

From poor leadership across the entire list, to the confusing game plan, to the lack of goalkicking midfielders, to the heavy finals losses, Cotchin has borne the brunt.

Fair enough too, after a nine-possession finals loss to North Melbourne that spoke volumes of Richmond’s lack of midfield grunt.

Finally Richmond has recruited Cotchin some wing men this year in Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy, contested ball hunters who will lessen that load.

Unlike Jacob Townsend and Andrew Moore and Matt Thomas, they can allow Cotchin to start forward, or work from the contest, or kick those long raking goals again.

Ironically, after winning a Brownlow Medal in the most improbable manner Cotchin has never been better placed for a bounce-back year.

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/expert-opinion/jon-ralph/trent-cotchin-will-receive-the-2012-brownlow-medal-a-reminder-of-what-could-have-been/news-story/a3c3e8339da77a4f6da63bc498bc384d